LEGEND OF THE SPECTRE. 



197 



that every one must be buried in the waves if they continued to 

 proceed. The admiral's firmness remained unshaken, and a 

 conspiracy was soon formed against him. He was informed in 

 time of this desperate plot by his brother Paulo. He put the 

 ringleaders and pilots in irons, and, assisted by his brother and 

 those who remained faithful to their duty, stood night and day 

 to the helm. At length, on Wednesday, the 20th of November, 

 the whole squadron doubled the tremendous promontory. The 

 mutineers were pardoned and released from their manacles. 



The legend of the Spectre of the Cape is given by Camoens 

 in full ; and it is so characteristic of the age, and, as an episode, 

 is itself so interesting, that we cannot refrain from quoting it 

 entire. Da Gama is supposed to be relating his experience in 

 the first person : 



"I spoke, when, rising through the darken'd air, 

 Appall'd, we saw a hideous phantom glare. 

 High and enormous o'er the flood he tower'd, 

 And thwart our way with sullen aspect lower'd ; 

 An earthly paleness o'er his cheeks was spread, 

 Erect uprose his hairs of wither'd red ; 

 Writhing to speak, his sable lips disclose, 

 Sharp and disjoin'd, his gnashing teeths' blue rows ; 

 His haggard beard flow'd quivering in the wind ; 

 Revenge and horror in his mien combined ; 

 His clouded front, by withering lightnings sear'd, 

 The inward anguish of his soul declared. 

 Cold, gliding horrors fill'd each hero's breast; 

 Oui' bristling hair and tottering knees confess'd 

 Wild dread. The while, with visage ghastly wan, 

 His black lips trembling, thus the fiend began : 



' Ye sons of Lusus, who, with eyes profane, 

 Have view'd the secrets of my awful reign, 

 Have pass'd the bounds which jealous nature drew 

 To veil her secret shrine from mortal view ; 

 Hear from my lips what direful woes attend, 

 And, bursting soon, shall o'er your race descend: 

 With every bounding keel that dares my rage, 

 Eternal war my rocks and storms shall wage. 

 The next proud fleet that through my drear domain 

 With daring hand shall hoist the streaming vane, 

 That gallant navy, by my whirlwinds toss'd, 

 And raging seas, shall perish on my coast. 



